- Akwa Ibom government declares two senior doctors wanted after they allegedly abandoned their posts despite eight years of state-sponsored training
- Commissioner Ekem John says the doctors must return to service or refund training costs, warning their licences could be withdrawn if they fail to comply
- The development comes amid Nigeria’s worsening doctor shortage, with Akwa Ibom’s health sector recently rocked by a maternal death case under investigation
Akwa Ibom state – The Akwa Ibom state government has declared two senior medical doctors wanted.
The declaration came after they allegedly abandoned their duty posts at the state’s Ministry of Health.
Source: Twitter
Commissioner for Health, Ekem John, disclosed this to journalists in Uyo on Monday, September 15, Premium Times reported.
He noted that the government had invested eight years of training in the two doctors.
He identified them as Dr Uduakabasi Ita, a consultant radiologist, and Dr Mfonobong George Bassey, a consultant haematologist.
Akwa Ibom govt: Doctors must return or refund training cost
John said the doctors must either return to their duty posts or refund the funds the state had spent on their professional training.
“We will track them until we find them. Any country they go to, we will go to the medical and dental council of that country, and we will stop them,” he said.
Akwa Ibom govt speaks on consequences for defaulters
The commissioner further stressed that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria could withdraw their licences if it failed to comply.
He added that, going forward, all medical officers trained by the state must serve the agreed number of years before they can resign.
Health sector crisis deepens

Source: UGC
Nigeria is battling an acute shortage of doctors, as many leave for better pay and working conditions abroad. In several states, government-employed doctors also run private facilities, further stretching the public health system, Vanguard reported.
Akwa Ibom’s health sector came under scrutiny recently after a mother and her newborn died following a caesarean section at a state hospital. Relatives accused hospital staff of negligence.
A panel set up by the government to investigate the tragedy submitted its report only days ago.
Akwa Ibom gob declare state of emergency in health sector
Previously, Legit.ng reported that, Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom, declared a state of emergency in the state’s health sector, following the review of his government’s healthcare development roadmap. The governor explained that the development was to accelerate reforms and ensure efficiency in the healthcare delivery in line with the ARISE agenda of his administration.
Aniekan Umanah, the state commissioner for information, announced the development after the State Executive Council meeting, which was held at the government house in Uyo, the state capital, on Saturday, September 13.
According to the commissioner, the directive under the emergency rule included the expansion and upgrading of the medical facilities across the state. He noted that the recruitment portal should be reopened so that 2,000 workers could be engaged. The basic requirement for the application is a voter’s identity card.
Source: Legit.ng